§ Mr. HinchliffeTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) what assessment he has made of the impact of local authority highways department road building on sites of special scientific interest;
(2) what studies he has undertaken to monitor the impact of road building on sites of importance to wildlife, other than sites of special scientific interest.
§ Sir Paul BeresfordComprehensive information about the effect of road building or widening programmes might have on wildlife sites is not held centrally and could not be obtained except at disproportionate cost. All relevant considerations are taken into account in the planning process before final decisions are made.
§ Mr. HinchliffeTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what steps are taken to monitor water tables in sites of special scientific interest and other areas of environmental sensitivity, where developments of roads could result in drainage changes.
§ Sir Paul BeresfordIf necessary, conditions may be attached to a planning permission if there is likely to be a significant effect on drainage that would affect the integrity of the SSSI.